Female soldiers are issued with tampons and sanitary towels for the first time as Armed Forces minister ends ‘ridiculous’ situation where women had to pack their own supplies
- Armed Forces minister announced that a ‘provisions box’ will be provided
- Prior to this, female soldiers were required to pack their own sanitary products
- ‘Embarrassingly, hitherto there has been no mechanism for tampons,’ he said
The Armed Forces are issuing female soldiers with sanitary products for the first time after its minister hailed the end of a ‘ridiculous’ situation where women had to pack their own supplies.
Prior to this, female personnel serving abroad were required to provide their own sanitary products.
Armed Forces minister James Heappey announced that a ‘provisions box’ would now be available on operations, containing sanitary products and spare underwear, to give female soldiers ‘peace of mind’ in environments where ‘everything’s run out’.
The Armed Forces are issuing female soldiers with sanitary products for the first time (File image)
He added that the box would only be a temporary ’emergency’ solution and the force is currently working towards ensuring sanitary items such as tampons can be requested alongside food items when placing stock orders.
Mr Heappey added that it ‘doesn’t sit easy with me that a period is regarded as an emergency. I mean it happens every 28 days, so it isn’t an unexpected thing’.
Women make up 11 per cent of all Armed Forces personnel.
The move means that such items will now be available to female soldiers in the same way that essential items such as toilet roll and sun cream are provided.
‘Embarrassingly, hitherto there has been no mechanism for tampons and sanitary towels to come down through the military resupply system; they simply haven’t existed, which is appalling,’ Mr Heappey said, as quoted by The Sunday Telegraph.
‘As an ex-infantry officer, I just remember that I was provided in the field with tissues with which to wipe my bum, I was provided with foot powder to make sure that I didn’t get athlete’s foot, I could have insect repellent in tropical climes and suntan lotion.
‘Effectively, through the military supply chain, everything that I needed to survive in an austere operational environment was provided, but that amazingly was not the case for women and providing for them on their periods.
‘Up until now, women have not been able to have that peace of mind around their periods. I think that’s ridiculous.’